Spurs Grab Game-Clinching Rebound: from NBA Playbook

With 50 seconds left in the Bulls game, as Tony prepared to shoot his 2nd free throw to put the Spurs up 7 points (and 3 possessions) theonlyromeo went on a rampage in the game thread -- the likes of which have not recently been seen. He made it clear that he felt the Spurs had maintained possession because of a "lucky bounce."

Well, Sebastian Pruiti at NBAplaybook.com has looked at the play, and analyzed it in detail. Were the Spurs lucky? Or did they make their own luck?

over 1 year ago J.R. Wilco 22 comments 0 recs |

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Thank you for finding this, jrw… awesome analysis. (It bothered me a bit that romes went a little crazy in the game thread over this, and this rebuttal is terrific.)

It’s odd that Noah made the mistake… I thought he has pretty good fundamentals, even if he tends to get a little too frisky when excited. But he definitely stopped boxing out TD too soon; Tony’s FT hadn’t even hit the rim yet.

Did you notice also that Deng was maybe a step or two too close to the basket, so that it was a little easier for Duncan to knock the loose ball into RJ 2.0’s arms? I should say, his looooong arms. :)

Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.

Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.

by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 18, 2010 1:55 PM CST reply actions

Romes’ reaction was more about his inability to accept RJ 2.0. He and tlo were driving the anti-RJ wagon last year – romes’ is still driving, but that particular bus ain’t going anywhere.

With all due respect, gentlemen, we're not as crazy as she is.

by CapHill on Nov 18, 2010 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

Reading that lucky bounce over and over made me laugh.

"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s what happens while you wait for moments that will never come." - Lester Freamon, The Wire

by silverandblack_davis on Nov 18, 2010 5:17 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, me too.

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Nov 18, 2010 5:18 PM CST up reply actions

A bucket of chuckles.

Basically voted most normal person on PtR.

by Queness on Nov 18, 2010 11:25 PM CST up reply actions

But did bakkie like it?

The point with intangibles is that no one can see them.

by J.R. Wilco on Nov 19, 2010 12:55 AM CST up reply actions

Meh.

"Sometimes the Spurs make you play ugly. That's just the way they are." - Gary Bender

by Bakkie009 on Nov 19, 2010 1:20 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I love it when you’re enthusiastic like that.

The point with intangibles is that no one can see them.

by J.R. Wilco on Nov 19, 2010 1:32 AM CST up reply actions

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Nov 18, 2010 5:51 PM CST up reply actions

Most definitely. I just didn’t think that everyone remembered Romes’ sheer antipathy towards RJ last year – kinda like Fred and Matty.

With all due respect, gentlemen, we're not as crazy as she is.

by CapHill on Nov 18, 2010 8:03 PM CST up reply actions

Hah no Fred and Matt is beautiful. It’s such a lovely hate.

by greyberger on Nov 18, 2010 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

I really do wonder how Fred handled Bonners’ performance in the OKC game.

The point with intangibles is that no one can see them.

by J.R. Wilco on Nov 19, 2010 1:02 AM CST up reply actions

Ahhh, I see. Thanks for explaining… I guess I have a different approach. When Matty makes 7 out of 7 three-pointers, I just keep quiet. :)

Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.

Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.

by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 18, 2010 9:22 PM CST up reply actions

Last night’s thread was pretty epic… I love it when stuff like this carries over. And, lucky bounce or not, that was all Noah’s fault.

by DrumsInTheDeep on Nov 18, 2010 2:05 PM CST reply actions

Didn’t get to see it live, but when i watched it on my DVR I thought it was a great hustle play by Timmy to keep the rebound up for grabs instead of a lucky bounce. If we were fortunate that the ball wound up in RJs hands, it was only because Tim put in the effort to not let Noah grab the rebound initially. I thought Tim was really aggressive on the offensive boards all night, and the refs treated him like the superstar that he is and didn’t call him for any over the back fouls that maybe Dejuan or a lesser player would have gotten charged with.

by Tim B. Dunkin' on Nov 18, 2010 2:13 PM CST reply actions

Your analysis is spot on. And Noah started the play boxing TD out, but left the box too early, thereby giving Timmy the chance to tip the ball to RJ.

Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.

Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.

by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 18, 2010 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

Earlier on a free throw, Duncan beat Noah with a baseline spin move for position for the free throw rebound. That time it went in. I wonder if that had anything to do with how Noah played it at this point.

by Jordan Leithart on Nov 18, 2010 2:16 PM CST reply actions

Nice find, JRW – are you going to be at the game on Saturday?

"Ginobili. . .He's weaving, he's throwing up triple axels in sneakers, he's willing the ball into the basket. It's Cirque du Soleil with refs." Dan Oshinsky / KENS 5

by janieannie on Nov 18, 2010 2:33 PM CST reply actions

Don’t think I’ll be able to make it, JA. But I’ll call you if my plans change.

The point with intangibles is that no one can see them.

by J.R. Wilco on Nov 19, 2010 1:00 AM CST up reply actions

hah! it is what it is!

"Yes, it's important that I have good numbers, and I'm well-respected as a player. But I think it's more important that I'm respected as a man." - Some Tall Guy Who Wore #50

by theonlyromeo on Nov 19, 2010 9:24 PM CST reply actions

He had another one at a key moment late in the 4th tonight… just sayin’.

by Tim C. on Nov 20, 2010 1:08 AM CST reply actions

Yes. He’s gone from looking lost on the floor at times last year, to having the knack for being in the right place at the right time. Even if that were the only improvement RJ made this year, I’d say that he’d made an incredible turn-around.

Hey, if posting a sharp, insightful, yet non-sarcastic comment were that easy, even olf would do it.

Mike Monroe: ...the uninformed presume Parker is expendable.

by freshtunarightofftheboat on Nov 20, 2010 1:41 AM CST up reply actions